Do you struggle to identify the interval between two notes?
A trick I use is to think of a melodies than contain the interval, and are easy to remember.
Below are a few suggestions for the main major, minor and perfect intervals.
Contents
- Minor 2nd
- Major 2nd
- Minor 3rd
- Major 3rd
- Perfect 4th
- Tritone
- Perfect 5th
- Minor 6th
- Major 6th
- Minor 7th
- Major 7th
- Octave
Minor 2nd
The smallest distance between two notes on the standard Western tuned keyboard/piano is the minor 2nd, known also as a semitone.
Short symbol: m2. May also be referred to as a half tone, half step, or augmented unison.
Ascending
Examples
- Jaws: the two prominent notes in the theme to the movie
- Stormy Weather: the first two notes
- The Beatles’ It’s Been a Hard Day’s Night: the first two notes
Descending
Examples
- Joy to the World: the first two notes (learn to play Joy to the World)
- Beethoven’s Fur Elise: the first two notes.
Listen to the intervals played both ascending and descending, plus together as a chord, across several octaves.
Major 2nd
Short symbol: M2. May also be referred to as a tone, whole tone, whole step or diminished third.
Ascending
Examples
- Doe A Deer (Sound of Music): First two notes of the chorus
- EastEnders (UK Soap Opera): Any two consecutive notes from the first three
- Frere Jacques: First two notes or second and third notes
- Happy Birthday: Second and third notes
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: the first two notes (learn to play Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
Descending
Examples
- Blow the Wind Southerly: First two notes
- Deck the Halls: First two notes (learn to play Deck the Halls)
- Mary Had A Little Lamb: First two notes (Get a simple manuscript for Mary Had a Little Lamb)
- The First Noel: First two notes (learn to play The First Noel)
- Three Blind Mice: First two notes or second and third notes (Get a simple manuscript for Three Blind Mice)
- Whistle While You Work: First two notes
- Yesterday (The Beatles): First two notes
- Away in a Manger (US version): Second and third notes (learn to play Away in a Manger)
Listen to the intervals played both ascending and descending, plus together as a chord, across several octaves.
Minor 3rd
Short symbol: m3. May also be referred to as an augmented second.
Ascending
Examples
- “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran: First two notes of main intro/riff
- “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5: First two notes of main intro/riff
- “A Time for Us” Romeo & Juliet (main theme): First two notes
- Beverley Hills Cop: First two notes
- Greensleeves: First two notes
- Lullaby (Brahms): Second and third notes
- The Impossible Dream: “To Dream” notes
Descending
Examples
- Beverley Hills Cop: Second and third notes
- Frosty the Snowman: First two notes (learn to play Frosty the Snowman)
- Hey Jude (The Beatles): First two notes
- Jesus Loves Me: First two notes
- The Star-Spangled Banner: First two notes (learn to play Star-Spangled Banner)
- This Old Man: First two notes
Listen to the intervals played both ascending and descending, plus together as a chord, across several octaves.
Major 3rd
Short symbol: M3. May also be referred to as a diminshed fourth.
Ascending
Examples
- Michael Row the Boat Ashore: First and second notes
- While Shepherd’s Watched Their Flocks By Night: First two notes (Learn to play While Shepherd’s Watched)
- When the Saints Go Marching In: First two notes
Descending
Examples
- Beethoven’s Fifth: Third and fourth notes of main melody
- Summertime: First two notes
- Swing Low Sweet Chariot: First two notes
Listen to the intervals played both ascending and descending, plus together as a chord, across several octaves.
Perfect 4th
Short symbol: P4. May also be referred to as an augmented third.
Ascending
Examples
- Auld Lang Syne: First two notes (learn to play Auld Lang Syne)
- Amazing Grace: First two notes (learn to play Amazing Grace)
- Dallas: First two notes
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing: First two notes (learn to play Hark the Herald Angels Sing)
- Here Comes the Bride: First two notes
- Love Me Tender (Elvis Presley): First two notes
- O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum): First two notes (learn to play O Christmas Tree)
- Some Day My Prince Will Come: First two notes of chorus
- We Wish You A Merry Christmas: First two notes (learn to play We Wish You A Merry Christmas)
- “We’re Walking in the Air” (theme from The Snowman): First two notes
Descending
Examples
- “Happy” by Pharrell: Interval to first drop note in the verse
- “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol: First two verse notes
- Born Free: First two notes
- Come on Eileen: (Dexy’s Midnight Runners) First two notes of chorus (“Come On”)
- O Come All Ye Faithful: Second and third notes (learn to play O Come All Ye Faithful)
Listen to the intervals played both ascending and descending, plus together as a chord, across several octaves.
Tritone
May also be referred to as a diminished fifth or an augmented fourth.
Ascending
Descending
Listen to the intervals played both ascending and descending, plus together as a chord, across several octaves.
Perfect 5th
Short symbol: P5. May also be referred to as a diminished sixth.
Ascending
Examples
- 2001 A Space Odyssey (Theme): First two notes of main melody
- Lavender’s Blue: First two notes
- O Lord and Father of Mankind (Hymn): First two notes
- Star Wars: First two notes
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: Second and third notes (Get the music for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star)
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: Second and third notes (Get the music for God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
- My Favourite Things: first two notes
- Hey There Georgy Girl by The Seekers: first two notes
Descending
Examples
- The Flintstones: First two notes
- The Star-Spangled Banner: The first and third notes form a perfect fifth descending. (learn to play Star-Spangled Banner)
Listen to the intervals played both ascending and descending, plus together as a chord, across several octaves.
Minor 6th
Short symbol: m6. May also be referred to as an augmented fifth.
Ascending
Examples
- The Entertainer: Third and fourth notes
- Theme from ‘Love Story’: Third and fourth notes (first two notes are the same interval with high note first)
Descending
Examples
- “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen: First two notes of chorus
- Theme from ‘Love Story’: First two notes
Listen to the intervals played both ascending and descending, plus together as a chord, across several octaves.
Major 6th
Short symbol: M6. May also be referred to as a diminished seventh.
Ascending
Examples
- Angels (Robbie Williams): First two notes of verse
- It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (Carol): First two notes (learn to play It Came Upon the Midnight Clear)
- Jingle Bells: First two notes of line “Dashing Through the Snow” (learn to play Jingle Bells)
- My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean: First two notes
Descending
Examples
- Music of the Night (from Phantom of the Opera) – first two notes of verse
- Sweet Caroline: First two notes of chorus
Listen to the intervals played both ascending and descending, plus together as a chord, across several octaves.
Minor 7th
Short symbol: m7. May also be referred to as an augmented sixth.
Ascending
Examples
- There’s a Place For Us (West Side Story): First two notes
Descending
Listen to the intervals played both ascending and descending, plus together as a chord, across several octaves.
Major 7th
Short symbol: M7. May also be referred to as a diminished octave.
Ascending
Examples
- On the Street Where You Live: the notes for ‘Once’ and ‘Am’ in ‘All at once am I, several storeys high’
Descending
Listen to the intervals played both ascending and descending, plus together as a chord, across several octaves.
Octave
Short symbol: P8. May also be referred to as a perfect octave or augmented seventh.
Ascending
Examples
- Let It Snow: Second and third notes (learn to play Let It Snow)
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow: First two notes
- Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire: first two notes
Descending
Examples
- There’s No Business Like Show Business: Second and third notes
Listen to the intervals played both ascending and descending, plus together as a chord, across several octaves.
Hat tips to ThinkQuest, “Songwriting and the Creative Process”, VCU and commenters below for additional song ideas.
